How Not To

Step 7 Don't try to Kitesurf with a Windsurfing Board

A regular surfboard can work for kitesurfing. An original windsurfer is enough like a real surfboard that it can be made to work in light wind.
Other than that, any windsurfer, shortboards, sinkers, floaters, anything with sharp rails and a big fin is all wrong for kitesurfing. It took me about a year of trying really hard to figure that out.

Here's Saul's foot after he stepped on the fin of the windsurfing board I was trying to kite with.
Those windsurfing fins can be really sharp.

The next photo shows the Fat Tadpole, maybe the third windsurfer-derived kiteboard I made. It doesn't work. Read more about these failures and some stuff that did work.

Comments

[artisticlicents]

Herein lies the difference between men and women. While a man will continue to try stuff until he comes up with something that will work, a woman will explore the underlying principles until she understands them enough to create a working substitute. This is also why men rule the world. It takes less time to just try stuff.

[upcycler74]

I cant say whether this is true or not, but it makes me think, and it is interesting to think about... thanks.

[crazypyro]

Finally, someone understands!

[Grey_Wolfe]

Matching scars, eh? This a fashion statement now? lol

[SevereFlame]

*shudder* Be careful around sharp things!